TEN-YEAR-OLD Callum Adams designed a winning poster to demonstrate the dangers, effects and causes of grass fires.

Youngsters from the Abertillery area took part in the project as part of the local fire station's attempt to reduce the numbers of incidents.

Bryngwyn, Trinant, Queen Street and St Illtyds Primary Schools entered the competition set by Abertillery Station Commander Martin Donoghue to try to raise awareness of the causes and the consequences of grass fires.

Mr Donoghue said: "This was a good way of getting children to think carefully about the consequences of setting grass fires.

"If they have the chance to be creative, and have the possibility of winning something for showing that they understand the topic then it usually inspires them to get involved.

We've been extremely busy dealing with grass and mountain fires during the Easter holidays but hopefully the children who learnt about the dangers of these by designing a poster, were not involved in setting them."

A fire crew attended Bryngwyn Primary School to present Callum with his prize, £60 in Argos vouchers and a framed A4 version of the design.

Mr Donoghue said, "We chose this design because it was simple and to the point, it portrays how simply fires can be started and the devastating consequences that could result from them.

Between April 1 and 12 there were 39 fires in the Abertillery Fire Station area, and 392 across Gwent.